musicalman
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
The impulse to create this thread came to me several years ago, when my girlfriend asked me if I knew who Derek Paravicini was. Of course I had not, so she told me to look him up, as I might be interested in his unique combination of ability and disability. I took her advice, and soon found a documentary about him, and was indeed very interested in his story.
Paravicini is a blind autistic piano-playing savant who can play most any song he's ever heard. People sometimes call him the human IPod because he seems to know every song they could ask him to play. If there's something he doesn't know, he can learn it very quickly, and he can forever recall it and play it at will. Far more than an IPod though, he can change the key of a song, change its style, and improvise radical changes. Being severely autistic though, he needs around-the-clock care. He struggles to count, carry on conversations, and perform basic daily living tasks.
I recently read a biography of him written by Adam ockelford, his first piano teacher and close friend, called In the Key of Genius. My interest in him was renewed, particularly when it came to comparisons. Derek and I have a lot in common, yet a lot that is so different.
We both were born premature at about the same point in the pregnancy, and we are both blind as a result of ROP, though different contributing factors played a role in our conditions. We both have perfect pitch, the ability to identify or sing a note on command without any reference. We both plonked on toy organs as toddlers, and worked out simple melodies before taking piano lessons. We have tendencies to sway/rock back and forth and fidget unless we hear something, in which case we become perfectly still and listen intently. We memorize new music almost instinctively, as neither of us know braille music or any other form of written music. WE both love to improvise, and take to jazz really well, with a natural tendency to follow the leader if one is present, and then excitedly embellish what they're doing. I think we both are very excitable, sometimes to an uncontrollable degree, when we're in our element.
But there are many differences too. Derek specializes in the jazz piano styles of the early 20th century like stride piano and ragtime. As a child I tried to emulate these, as well as pop/rock, classical, and even singer/songwriter. Finding little fulfillment in these, I found a niche I liked: a very relaxed but tentatively dynamic exploratory introvert bar piano player style. IT's slow, easy for me to find my way, but leaving the door open for me to casually sculpt my path. I prefer a fair bit more aggressive fusion/jazz/funk style when I'm in a band, when I'm supported by other musicians. I don't particularly like making a lot of noise, but Derek seems to find excitement in loud dynamics.
Derek's performance style is outgoing, but mine often isn't. I've largely killed my stage fright, but nobody ever sees me going on stage or a gig overflowing with excitement and energy. I'm pretty low key and very focused most of the time. Before a performance, Derek is rearing to go and seems to have tireless energy. I can't remember the last time I felt that way.
Derek never seems to be discouraged so long as he's in his element. I have always had such low confidence and high levels of shyness that I often didn't, and still don't, like trying new things that I know will likely make me fall on my face unless I am alone. I've always been the outcast trying to fit in and wanting at least a tight-knit social circle. While music plays a major role in my life and I could not live without it, even I have my limits. While I am sometimes driven, most of the time I am a very lazy person. I don't think lazy is even in Derek's being. Either that, or it's so effortless for him that laziness cannot exist. His life revolves around this one set of skills, and I think that is why his presentation is so different.
Ever since I heard about Derek, I wondered just how much we would understand each other. What would jamming with him be like? I think because our personalities are so different, it would be a little intimidating for me, but I'm sure I could do it. Would he find my company special, or would it be like anyone else he meets? Could we find some rudimentary way to communicate that would show each other that we do share parts of our worlds?
Those thoughts quickly turn to whether our differences result from just personality, or also ASD differences as well. If I weren't high functioning, would I be more like Derek? Would I want that? Is this whole thing a trade-off (trading talent for high social function)? Never feeling completely satisfied with myself, I've always wondered what it would be like if I were different for a day. A day in the life of Derek. Or the day in the life of an NT like my buddies at college. Two very opposite ends of the scale. Should I be happy to be in the middle of the two? For a time I was, and in many ways I still am, but that low self-confidence thing makes me question my resolve, even though I am completely aware that it is futile and I should be happy where I am.
So do you have any experiences like that? Can relate on so many levels to a person with unique needs, but then the differences are so large that you don't know if you could completely connect? If so, I'd love to hear your story!
The impulse to create this thread came to me several years ago, when my girlfriend asked me if I knew who Derek Paravicini was. Of course I had not, so she told me to look him up, as I might be interested in his unique combination of ability and disability. I took her advice, and soon found a documentary about him, and was indeed very interested in his story.
Paravicini is a blind autistic piano-playing savant who can play most any song he's ever heard. People sometimes call him the human IPod because he seems to know every song they could ask him to play. If there's something he doesn't know, he can learn it very quickly, and he can forever recall it and play it at will. Far more than an IPod though, he can change the key of a song, change its style, and improvise radical changes. Being severely autistic though, he needs around-the-clock care. He struggles to count, carry on conversations, and perform basic daily living tasks.
I recently read a biography of him written by Adam ockelford, his first piano teacher and close friend, called In the Key of Genius. My interest in him was renewed, particularly when it came to comparisons. Derek and I have a lot in common, yet a lot that is so different.
We both were born premature at about the same point in the pregnancy, and we are both blind as a result of ROP, though different contributing factors played a role in our conditions. We both have perfect pitch, the ability to identify or sing a note on command without any reference. We both plonked on toy organs as toddlers, and worked out simple melodies before taking piano lessons. We have tendencies to sway/rock back and forth and fidget unless we hear something, in which case we become perfectly still and listen intently. We memorize new music almost instinctively, as neither of us know braille music or any other form of written music. WE both love to improvise, and take to jazz really well, with a natural tendency to follow the leader if one is present, and then excitedly embellish what they're doing. I think we both are very excitable, sometimes to an uncontrollable degree, when we're in our element.
But there are many differences too. Derek specializes in the jazz piano styles of the early 20th century like stride piano and ragtime. As a child I tried to emulate these, as well as pop/rock, classical, and even singer/songwriter. Finding little fulfillment in these, I found a niche I liked: a very relaxed but tentatively dynamic exploratory introvert bar piano player style. IT's slow, easy for me to find my way, but leaving the door open for me to casually sculpt my path. I prefer a fair bit more aggressive fusion/jazz/funk style when I'm in a band, when I'm supported by other musicians. I don't particularly like making a lot of noise, but Derek seems to find excitement in loud dynamics.
Derek's performance style is outgoing, but mine often isn't. I've largely killed my stage fright, but nobody ever sees me going on stage or a gig overflowing with excitement and energy. I'm pretty low key and very focused most of the time. Before a performance, Derek is rearing to go and seems to have tireless energy. I can't remember the last time I felt that way.
Derek never seems to be discouraged so long as he's in his element. I have always had such low confidence and high levels of shyness that I often didn't, and still don't, like trying new things that I know will likely make me fall on my face unless I am alone. I've always been the outcast trying to fit in and wanting at least a tight-knit social circle. While music plays a major role in my life and I could not live without it, even I have my limits. While I am sometimes driven, most of the time I am a very lazy person. I don't think lazy is even in Derek's being. Either that, or it's so effortless for him that laziness cannot exist. His life revolves around this one set of skills, and I think that is why his presentation is so different.
Ever since I heard about Derek, I wondered just how much we would understand each other. What would jamming with him be like? I think because our personalities are so different, it would be a little intimidating for me, but I'm sure I could do it. Would he find my company special, or would it be like anyone else he meets? Could we find some rudimentary way to communicate that would show each other that we do share parts of our worlds?
Those thoughts quickly turn to whether our differences result from just personality, or also ASD differences as well. If I weren't high functioning, would I be more like Derek? Would I want that? Is this whole thing a trade-off (trading talent for high social function)? Never feeling completely satisfied with myself, I've always wondered what it would be like if I were different for a day. A day in the life of Derek. Or the day in the life of an NT like my buddies at college. Two very opposite ends of the scale. Should I be happy to be in the middle of the two? For a time I was, and in many ways I still am, but that low self-confidence thing makes me question my resolve, even though I am completely aware that it is futile and I should be happy where I am.
So do you have any experiences like that? Can relate on so many levels to a person with unique needs, but then the differences are so large that you don't know if you could completely connect? If so, I'd love to hear your story!
